Watch That Obscure Object of Desire

"Luis BuÃ±uel's masterpiece"

That Obscure Object of Desire is a French romance that was written by Jean-Claude Carriere and Luis Bunuel, who also directed. Based upon a story by Pierre Louys, the film features Fernando Rey and Carole Bouquet. . The story takes place in France and Spain while the city is in chaos due to terrorist threats. An elder Frenchman falls for a younger woman who essentially frustrates him romantically and sexually on a repeated basis.

Mathieu is traveling by train from Seville to Paris having broken up with Conchita, yet again. As the train prepares to leave, Conchita approaches, bruised and bandaged. Mathieu pours water over her from the train and she sneaks aboard.

Conchita is merely 18 but looks much older, vowing to keep her virginity in tact until she marries. She has always tantalized Mathieu with promises of sex, but does not allow him to be satisfied.

This is what causes them to break up repeatedly and unite, only to frustrate and confuse Mathieu again and again. Conchita tries to reconcile with Mathieu by insisting that sex is fake. She also has a relationship with another guy that upsets Mathieu, but she insists it is really a platonic friendship with a homosexual.

While she explains this, Mathieu beats her up. She says that because he hit her, she knows he loves her. This is what caused the way she looked as she approached the train while he was leaving.

Conchita then drops a bucket of water on Mathieu’s head. The couple reconciles once more by the time the train has reached its destination. Walking arm in arm upon departing the train, they go on to enjoy themselves in Madrid.

Over the loudspeaker in a Paris mall, an announcement is made that the country is under the start of a terrorist attack. As they continue to walk, the couple passes a shop where a seamstress is mending a veil that has been bloodied. Then a bomb explodes, ending their lives.